Fake vaccination case: Those playing with lives should be taught a lesson, says Bombay HC

MUMBAI: "Playing with lives of citizens, they should be taught a lesson whoever they be. Irrespective of any colour. There may be big fish involved and yet to be identified, probe must be absolutely proper and no one should be left out," said Bombay high court bench of chief justice Dipankar Datta and justice Girish Kulkarni on Tuesday to state public prosecutor in the fake vaccination case in Mumbai where 2,053 persons got duped.
The HC, however, also expressed its satisfaction with the police investigation progress report of a deputy police commissioner dated June 29, produced by prosecutor Deepak Thakare. It said 12 persons booked so far and 11 were in custody in seven crime cases registered so far. A sessions court had on Monday rejected the pre-arrest bail plea of Dr Manish Tripathi and he has surrendered said Thakare.
The HC also directed the civic administration to submit on Thursday a fresh Standard Opertaing Procedure (SOP) it plans to bring out in a day, on conducting vaccination camps at Housing societies, educational institutions etc. It also directed the BMC to inform the steps it proposes to take to ensure that the 2053 persons duped by the camps since May 25, are checked for antibodies.
The HC was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) on streamlining the use of cowin app and making vaccines for Covid-19 more easily accessible to all. The HC asked the BMC to inform how it intends to check the victims of the fake vaccinations and question why the state and civic authorities were yet unable to unearth what they had been administered.
"This appears to be a state failure…Whatever tests they are required, must be done," said the bench, adding, "Whatever you are contemplating for these unfortunate people you must tell us.’’ Anil Sakhare, senior counsel for BMC said he will apprise the HC on Thursday, the next hearing date, after the HC sought to know the civic “measures for 2053 innocent individuals who were duped by fake vaccination camps held…"
“Earnest endeavour ought to be made by investigative officers to book those are yet to be taken into custody. We hope and trust probe is completed soon and Section 173, Criminal procedure code (CrPC) report filed at magistrate court at the earliest,’’ said the HC in its order.